Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-09-17

dried grass shows which way the wind has
set.
And 90 another three months passed over
us, by which time we had all attained to a
very considerable mastery of the Zu-vendi
language, which is an easy one TO learn. And
as the time went on we became great favor
ties with the people, and even with the cour-
tiers, gaining an enormous reputation for
cleverneSs, because, as / think have said, Sir
Henry was able to show them how to make
glass, which was national want: and also,
by the help OF a twenty year almanac
that we had with us, 10 predict vari-
Gus heavenly combinations which were
quite unsupported by the native as
tronomeis. We even succeeded in de
monstrating the principle of the steam engine
to gathering of the learned men, who were
filled with amazement; and several other
things of the Same sort we did. And SO it
came about that the people made up their
minds that we must ON no account be allowed
TO go out of the country (which indeed was an
apparent impossibility even il we had wished
III, and we were advanced to great honor and
made officers of the body guards of the sister
queens, while permanent quarters were as
signed to us in the palace, and our opinion
was asked upon questions of national policy.
But blue as the sky seemed, there wac .
cloud, and big one, on the horizon We
had, indeed, heard no more of those con-
founded hippopotami; but it Is not on that
account to be supposed that our sacrilege was
orgotten, or the enmity of the great and
powerful priesthood headed by Agon OPP
,eased. On the contrary, it was burning the
more fiercely because it was necessarily sup
nI hot haI hor t,.
bigotry was ending In downright direct hatred
born of jealousy. Hitherto the priests had
been the wise men Of the land, and were
on this account, as well as from super
stitious causes, looked on with peculiar ven
Grafton. But our arrival, with our outland-
ish wisdom and our strange inventions and
hints of unimagined things dealt n serious
blow TO this state of affairs, and, among the
educated Zu-Vendi, went far tow ard destroy
ing the priestly prestige A still worse
affront to them, however, was the favor with
which we were regarded, and the trust that
was reposed in us. All these things tended
to make us excessively obnoxious TO the great
sacerdotal clan, the most powerful becs use
the most united faction in the kingdom
Another source of imminent dangcl. e. us
was the rising envy of some of t!;c great
us had at best been but thinly vei.e.l, and
which now threatened TO break out into open
flame. Nasta had for some years been q
candidate for Nylepthas hand in marriage;
and when we appeared ON the scene fancy,
from all | could gather, thu. though there
were still many obstacles in his path success
was by no means out of his reach But now
all this had changed; the coy Nyleptha smiled
no more in his direction, and he was not slow
to guess the cause. Infatuated and alarmed
he turned his attention to Sorais, only to find
that he might as well try to WOO mountain
side. With bitter jest or two about his
fickleness, that door was closed on him for
ever. SO Nasta bethought him of the &c, 900
wild swordsmen who would pour down at his
bidding through the northern mountain
passes, and no doubt vowed to adorn the
gates of Milosis with our heads.
But first he determined, as we learned. to
make one more attempt, and to demand the
hand of Nyleptha in the open court after the
formal annual ceremony of the signing of the
laws that had been proclaimed by the queens
during the year
or this astounding fact Nyleptha heard
with simulated nonchalance, and with a little
trembling of the voice herself informed us OF
it as we sat at supper on the night preceding
the great ceremony of the law signing.
Sir Henry bit his liz, and, do what he could
to prevent it, plainly showed his agitation.
"And what answer will the queen be
pleased to give to the great lord!' asked /, in
a jesting manner.
answer, Macumazahn" for we had elected
to pass by our Zulu names in Zu- Vendis), she
said, with pretty shrug Of her ivory shout
der. "Nay, | know not; what is a poor
woman to do when the wooer has 10000
swords wherewith to urge his love" and from
under her long lashes she glanced at Curtis.
just then we rose from the table to ad journ
into another room. "Quatermain, word,
quick" said Sir Henry TO me- "Listen; /
have never spoken about it, but surely you
have guessed love Nyleptha. What am
to dol"
Fortunately, had more or less already
taken the question into consideration, aud
was therefore able to give such answer as
seemed the wisest TO me.
"You must speak to Nyleptha tonight I
said. snow is your time-now or never.
Listen; in the sitting room get near to her,
and whisper to her TO meet you at midnight
by the Rademas statue at the end Of the great
hall. will keep watch for you there. Now
or never, Curtis"
We passed on into the other ROOM Nylep-
tina was sitting, her hands before her, and a
sad, anxious look upon her lovely face A
little way off was Sorais talking to Good in
her slow, measured tones.
The time went on in another quarter Of an
hour knew that, according to their habit,
the queens would retire. As yet Sir Henry
had had no chance OF saying word in pri-.
vate; indeed, though we saw much of the
royal sisters it was by no means easy to see
them alone. racked my brains, and at last
an idea came to me.
"Will the queen be pleased" | said, bowling
low before Sorais, "to sing unto her servantsl
Our hearts are heavy this night Sing to US,
o Lady of the Night" (Sorais' favorte name
among the people,.
"My songs, Macumazahn, are not such as
to Tighten the heavy heart, yet will | sing if
it pleases thee" she answered. and she rose
and went few PAGES to "a table, whereon lay